“Science is an international enterprise where the UK is strong. Other nations, including the US, are raising their expenditure at the same time as our government plans to cut ours. This will make the UK less attractive to mobile talent. And it risks sending a signal to young people that the UK is no longer a country that aspires to scientific leadership. A cut by ‘X percent’ would lead to a decline of much more than ‘X percent’ in top-grade scientific output. It is sad that this government appears willing to risk one of the few areas where the UK has a genuine competitive economic advantage — one which, when lost, could not be readily recovered. The question should not be can we afford the investment – it should be can we afford the cuts.”